Storm water diversion device

ABSTRACT

The invention is a diversionary device for storm water runoff that will divert water from the center of the street to the sides of the street where filters are in place by others. The diversion device for diverting storm water consists of a length member having a length and a width, the length extending a selected distance, the length having formed a multiplicity of baffles along the selected distance, the width having a selected profile, the profile being selected to divert storm water, the length member having formed on at least one its ends at least one interlocking means.

This application is based on provisional application Ser. No. 61/014,221filed Dec. 17, 2007, and is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 12/152,956 filed May 20, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, in an urban environment there are very few means forbarricading or diverting storm water on streets during storms. Thetypical methods are to provide sandbags. However, sandbags have severallimitations, they leak, they cannot be driven over, they are laborintensive, and they cannot be easily relocated. The present inventionovercomes these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes a non-porous modular device that iseasily assembled on site to provide a simple diversion device to stormwater, and is traversable by both normal passenger vehicles andconstruction vehicles. In overcoming the problems of the prior art, thepresent invention enables the assembly of one or more units, dependingon the width of the road and the degree of the problem, providing aquick to assemble storm water diversion device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 describes a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 describes a side view of an element of the invention.

FIG. 3 describes a side view of an element of the invention with a turnconnector attached.

FIG. 4 describes a plan view of an element of the invention with a turnconnector attached.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a storm water diversion device, which is madeup of the following required elements: a series of interlocking lengthmembers that form the bulk of the device and an interlocking head memberthat begins the diversion. The diversion device 100 typically consistsof a length member 110 and a head member 180, although in someinstances, only the length members 110 may be employed. With referencenow to the figures, and referring specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, adiversion device 100 is disclosed consisting of a length member 110having a selected length, width and height. Length member 110 is notdrawn to scale, the length of length member 110 is attenuated for easeof display. Length member 110 may be anywhere from 2½-8 feet in length,so as to span the street in multiple sections. As seen in FIG. 1, thecross-sectional profile of length member 110 is generally trapezoidal incross-section with a base 115, an apex 120, and two symmetrical sides140. The height of the length member 110 may vary from about 3 inches toabout 6 inches. The base 115 is wide base relative to a somewhat narrowapex 120 of about 4″ to 6″, apex 120 having a slot 130 running thelength of the apex. Length member 110 should be about 10″ to 16″ inwidth at base 115. Spaced along the side 140 of length member 110 are aplurality of baffles 150. Studies have shown that baffles 150 createpockets of turbulence in the flow of storm water, which have a tendencyto impede the flow of storm water, thus slowing the flow of the stormwater. Baffles 150 may be formed in one or both sides of the lengthmember 110.

Slot 130 may serve multiple functions. As shown in FIG. 3, it mayreceive an extension 135 to increase the height of barrier 100 forinstances when there is an abnormal flow of storm water.

Length member 110 should be constructed of plastic, rubber or compositematerial such that it has some flexibility so that it follows thecontours of the road. Alternatively length member 110 could beconstructed of a hard plastic for use in the center of the street, withend members constructed of a more flexible rubber where the street hasmore contour. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that theprofile of the base unit need not be trapezoidal, but that a triangularor rounded profile is within the spirit of the invention.

Interlocking means are formed in one end or both ends of length member110, enabling two or more sections of length member 110 to be connectedin order to span a larger portion of the street. Interlocking means areknown to those of ordinary skill in the art, and may include female,male connectors, formed at opposing ends in length member 110.Interlocking means can also consist of end plates, wherein the baseunits and head units are connected by means of screws and bolts. Ones ofordinary skill in the art will recognize many methods of connecting thelength members. One such method is shown in FIG. 1. where connector 125extends past end piece 123, and tapers downward. Connector 125 wouldnestingly fit in a complementary portion of another length member (notshown) to complete the connection. FIG. 4 shows a plan view of twolength members connected by head member 180.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 3, head unit 180 has the same profile aslength member 110 and is used to change the direction of diversiondevice 100. From FIG. 3 it is shown that the ratio of the apex of headunit 180 the length of its base is about 1 to 2⅔. This ration may varyfrom about 1 to 1.5 to about 1 to 3. Head member 180 may be placed inthe center of the street to storm water diversion, with length members110 attached at surfaces 190 and 195 (FIG. 4) by interlocking means andoriented with the direction of storm water flow. Diversion device 100then conducts the flow of storm water from the center of the street andtoward the gutters on each side of the street. It is not necessary thathead member 180 be placed in the center of the street, and it may bebiased to either side of the street based on the requirements ofcontrolling storm water flow. In this embodiment, head unit 180 isformed having a square foot print, with female interlocking member 210for receiving male interlocking means of length members 110.Interlocking members 220 are recesses, approximately 4″ in depth, forreceiving the complementary member from length member 110 (not shown).Interlocking members 220 are semi-cylindrically shaped projections formating with complementary shaped recesses on length member 110 (notshown). Interlocking members 220 are also approximately 4″ in length.Interlocking members 200 are column shaped projections of approximately2″ which mate with complementary recesses on length member 110 (also notshown). The angle of intersection selected in this embodiment is 90°.However, any selected angle of intersection may be selected, 90° havingbeen selected solely for the ease of construction. Also shown is slot230 which corresponds to slot 130 in length member 110.

FIG. 2 discloses a side view of length member 110 interlocked with headmember 180 at surface 190. Length member 110 has a series of baffles 150spaced along its length recessed from smooth surface 140. Also shown isinterlocking means 160, for interconnecting with another length member110.

Diversion device 100 is preferably made from a high density non-porousrubber, but may also be made from, but not limited to light, strongpara-aramid synthetic fiber (KEVLAR), carbon fiber, plastic, polyurethane, or any number of resins to accomplish the device's desiredresults.

While the present invention has been described in terms of specificembodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited tothese disclosed embodiments. This invention may be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided byway of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough,complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to thoseskilled in the art. Indeed, many modifications and other embodiments ofthe invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to whichthis invention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered byboth this disclosure, the drawings and the claims.

1. A diversion device for diverting storm water, the device comprising:a non-porous length member having a selected width, height and length,the selected distance of the length, being at least 2½ feet, theselected height being from about 3 inches to about 6 inches, the lengthmember having opposing sides wherein the length member has amultiplicity of baffles formed extending the selected distance on bothopposing sides, and the width and height having a selected profileincluding a base and an apex.
 2. The diversion device of claim 1 whereinthe selected profile is trapezoidal.
 3. The diversion device of claim 2wherein the selected profile includes a flat apex extending the lengthof the length member.
 4. The diversion device of claim 3 wherein theratio of the length of the apex to the length of the base is betweenabout 1 to 1.5 to about 1 to
 3. 5. The diversion device of claim 4wherein the apex forms a slot for receiving an extension, the slotextending the length of the length member.
 6. The diversion device ofclaim 1 wherein the length member has formed on at least one of its endsinterlocking means for connecting to another length member.
 7. Thediversion device of claim 1 additionally comprising a head member, thehead member for changing the direction of the diversion device, the headmember having a length and a width, the length forming a bend at aselected angle, the width having a selected profile.
 8. The diversiondevice of claim 7 wherein the profile of the head member has the sameprofile as the length member.
 9. The diversion device of claim 7 whereinthe profile of the head member has an apex, the apex forming a slot forreceiving an extension.
 10. The diversion device of claim 7 additionallywherein the head member includes interlocking means for connecting tothe length member.
 11. The diversion device of claim 7 wherein selectedangle of the bend is 90°.
 12. A diversion device for diverting stormwater, the device comprising: a non-porous length member having aselected length, width and height, the selected distance of the lengthmember being at least 2½ feet, the selected height being from about 3inches to about 6 inches, the length member having opposing sides andextending a selected distance, the length member having formed amultiplicity of baffles along the opposing sides for a selecteddistance, the length member having formed on at least one its ends atleast one interlocking means, and the width and height having a selectedprofile including a base and a flat apex.
 13. The diversion device ofclaim 12 wherein the selected profile is trapezoidal and wherein theratio of the apex to the base is between about 1 to 1.5 to about 1 to 3.14. The diversion device of claim 12 wherein the apex extends the lengthof length member.
 15. The diversion device of claim 14 wherein the apexincludes a slot for receiving an extension, the slot extending thelength of the length member.
 16. The diversion device of claim 12additionally comprising a head member, the head member attaching to theinterlocking means for changing the direction of the diversion device,the head member having a length and a width, the length forming a bendat a selected angle, the width having a selected profile.
 17. Thediversion device of claim 16 wherein the profile of the head member hasthe same profile as the length member.
 18. The diversion device of claim16 wherein the profile of the head member has an apex, the apex includesa slot for receiving an extension.
 19. The diversion device of claim 16wherein the head unit has formed on at least one of its ends at leastone interlocking means.